Bremer: Life Is 'Normal' In Iraq - (who they think they're kidding?)

[ConcernedCanuk]

(CBS/AP) The U.S. administrator in Iraq insisted Friday that life in that country was "basically quite normal" despite nearly daily attacks by organized extremists and widespread common street crime.

<snip>

The U.S. military is detaining more than 5,000 Iraqi men and women accused of common crimes or of being security threats — people whose legal rights are in dispute and whose living conditions are hidden from public view. The Iraqi Lawyers League, under a new, elected leadership, is mounting a rights campaign on their behalf, and on behalf of the uncertain families they left behind.


The FBI has doubled the number of agents assigned to the probe into whether a Bush administration official illegally disclosed the name of a CIA operative married to a critic of the Iraq war, reports The New York Times. Four Democratic senators have complained that the probe is flawed because of delays in when documents were ordered preserved.

<snip>

"America claims to be the pioneer of freedom and democracy, but it resembles or indeed is a terror organization," al-Daraji told the congregation, which chanted "no to America and yes to martyrdom" as the coffins arrived. "The Americans may have forgotten that the real power rests with God and not with the wretched America."




Much MUCH more at link

[Kool Kitty]

1. Every time I hear one of these administration fools talk,

it leads me to believe that they're not just social drinkers, you know? :crazy:

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. "basically quite normal"

Ok then, lets send all our guys home next week then.

Or shut up & quit telling lies.

[Erika]

3. Life is Normal

Good quote. Let's just bring our 140,000 troops home...today.
Or admit we are an occupying force that must remain there for some semblance of order even though our soldiers (kids) are being shot and maimed daily.

[radfringe]

16. Life in Iraq IS normal

....normal for a war zone that is

[Dover]

4. Must mean that "new normal" that Cheney spoke of.

We're not in Kansas anymore, and death, destruction, greed......all perfectly normal. Just get acclimated.

[lanlady]

5. well then

I guess we don't need to spend that $87 bil after all.

[leftchick]

6. more from bremer.....

<snip> Asked how long U.S. soldiers would stay in Iraq, Bremer said that was a question for the Iraqis to answer, once a sovereign government took hold.

"I don't know if they'll want to have American troops here after they're sovereign or not," he said. "My guess is they probably will."



I wonder if he really believes this shit he is given to say about the wonderful new Iraq. I do know the faux/msrnc news watchers are lapping it up.

[Sticky]

7. They NEED to believe it.

People who supported this war have a vested interest in believing the PR crap they are hearing daily on all the news channels. They're the same people who bully critics into silence by yelling about patriotism.

They can't admit they were wrong or that would mean they have blood on their hands. I feel sorry for these people.

[dbt]

8. After they're sovereign?

Hell, they were sovereign before we invaded! And could I put a small wager on whether or not they'll want us there after they're sovereign again?

Hey, Bremer!

Can you feel the love?
dbt

[0007]

9. It all depends on who's standards, 'eh?

If ya don't mind seeing an American killed and a few getting their arms or legs or eyes blown off on a daily basic, one may say bloody good show!

IMO not one life has been worth it based on the lies and knowing what Halliburton is gonna gain.

[kentuck]

10. and he should have added: "despite the presence of US troops..."

He intends to give the impression things are back to normal because of the presence of US troops. In fact, most of the towns and villages are now governing themselves, opening schools, hospitals, etc. As the Iraqi Governing Council holes up in a tight security area trying to figure out how to govern Iraq...

[fizzana]

11. Bremer probably doesn't read newspapers either

Amina is putting her beauty salon up for sale. She has recovered from the episode last June when armed men burst in and robbed her clients of cash and jewellery, and she has learned to live with the gunfights that erupt with regularity at the coffee shop next door.
But within the space of a month, she says her teenage apprentice narrowly escaped abduction, a customer was held at gunpoint in another kidnapping attempt, and one of her regulars was dragged away by the hair and gang raped.

<snip>

Fears of a similar fate have driven Baghdad's female population indoors. When schools reopened on October 4, classrooms were half empty, with girls kept home by parents forced to choose between education and safety.

Under US occupation, working women have re-ordered their lives, wearing hijab for the first time, or travelling with male relatives. Some barely venture out at all.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1060813,00.html

Bremer lives in luxury behind multiple concrete barriers and only ventures out with a phalanx of guards. Maybe that's normal for him.

[revcarol]

12. One reporter on CNN is going to get fired.

He talked about Bremer doing "one of his rare public appearances" and having many bodyguards.

Time for a good system of home-schooling, for women and girls who aren't safe on the streets.Can we find a sleazy contractor for that?How about a Bush brother?

[Jack Rabbit]

13. He's partly right

Large demonstrations against colonial occupation is normal.

[cliss]

14. Yes, Bremer

needs to keep the spin going. He's doing what he's been told. While life is "basically quite normal", he is surrounded by many bodyguards, and his compound is surrounded by barbed wire and soldiers.

"Babyface" Bremer has virtually no contact with the outside world (too dangerous). He is completely isolated from ordinary Iraqis. I read recently that this is one of the complaints about the occupation; they're too isolated from their constituents.

So here we are, 4 months later, and no pot lucks, no impromptu gatherings or social get-togethers. Wonder why not?

[LibDemAlways]

21. I think the "Welcome Wagon"

in Iraq has come in the form of car bombs, rocket propelled grenades, and
ambushes. Don't think our troops are enjoying being on the receiving end of
the "hospitality." But Bremer doesn't give a shit. The cabal is paying him big
bucks to sit in a fortified palace and lie his ass off - at least until the whole
charade collapses.

[maggrwaggr]

15. US troops bulldozing farmer's crops, bombs exploding outside hotels

yeah, that sounds "normal" to me. Think I'll move there tomorrow!

[kskiska]

17. Well, if things are back to normal,

I guess we can expect to see tourism opening up soon. SEE the house where Uday and Qusay were captured!! SPEND A NIGHT in Saddam's fabulous palace on the Tigris!!

[gulliver]

18. OK. I guess they don't need the 150K troops and $87 billion.

Hey, if it's fine, why do they still need all those troops and all that money?

[raifield]

19. Direct quote:

"The two bombers were died"

Right. Okay, who didn't do their job today? Please raise your hand.

[ConcernedCanuk]

20. Normal ? - now all they got is Funny-Money !

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